Related: Riot rally held in Busan against APEC meeting

    BUSAN, South Korea, Nov. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of the 21 member economies of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) began their annual meeting at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centeron Friday to discuss a wide range of issues on promoting economic growth and prosperity in the region.

    The two-day event in South Korea's second largest city of Busanis being held after foreign and trade ministers from the member economies reached agreement on accelerating the stalled global trade negotiations and ways to combat terrorism and possible avian influenza pandemic.

    At around 1:45 p.m. (local time), Roh Moo-hyun, president of the Republic of Korea, the host country of the meeting, greeted other APEC economic leaders at the gate of the meeting hall.

    At their first meeting, or the first retreat, Friday, the leaders will discuss global trade issues, including a special statement aimed at a new round of the Doha Development Agenda, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong next month.

    On Saturday, the second retreat will be held at a specially designed facility, the Nurimaru APEC House, on a nearby islet, under the theme of "a safe and transparent Asia-Pacific region."

    "Nurimaru" is a newly coined Korean word, meaning "the pinnacle of the world." Enditem